Culinary device



HAMDAE? Jan. 2, 11923.

M. J. BELL. CULINARY DEVICE.

fiigaref Fl Li AUG 2a 1921 Patented cl an. 1' 3,

MARGARET J. BELL, OF WELLFVILLE, OHIO.

CULINTQBY DEVICE.

Application filed August 23, 1921.

To all whom-it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARGARET J. BELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vellsville, in the county of Columbiana and State or" Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Culinary Devices, oi which the following is a s-pecifica tion.

This invention relates to culinary devices and more in particular to fruit, vegetable and egg lifters.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a litter which is easy to operate and which can be manufactured at low cost. A further object is to provide a litter by means of which goods of greatly different sizes may be lifted. Another object is to provide such a device which will occupy but little space when in closed position as compared to its full open position. Further features and advantages will appear from the specification and drawings which form a part of this application.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation in section, showing my device in the closed position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the device when in full open position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation 01": the body part of my lifter.

Fig. 4c is a plan view of a section taken along line l-4e, Figure 1.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a section taken along line 55. Figure 1.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a section taken along line 6- 8, Figure 1.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail of my device shown in perspective.

Tteterring to the drawings my device consists oi a hollow body or handle 1 made of any suitable material, having a bottom 2 and a cap 3, into which a ring or hook 4: is inserted to provide means for suspending the device on a nail, etc. Within the body is mounted for reciprocal movement a disc 5 connected by means of a rod 6 to the grip members 7 which are arranged for sliding movement in slots 8 provided in the upper part or" the handle. The rod 6 passes through a guide-plate 9, suitably positioned in the handle and secured therein by means of the bosses 10 and lugs 11, or by any other method. As shown in Figures 1 and 2 the grip members are preferably bent so as to slide along the body 1, thus insuring a straight movement oi the disc.

. an B Serial No. 494,554.

Intermediate the disc 5 and the plate 9 I provide the coil spring 12, the tendency of which is to normally push the disc 5 downwardly. On the underside of said disc are rockably mounted, between lugs 13 provided on said disc, a plurality of legs 14, the upper and shorter ends 01"- which are conveniently off-set as shown in the figures. At the lower end of said legs are pivotally mounted by means of the pin connections 15 the suitably bent prong-members 16, preferably made of sheet metal and provided at the upper part with the bent up ears 17 between which the legs 1 1 are engaged. Each of said cars is provided outwardly of the pin connection 15 with. the registering apertures 18 through which a suitably bent wire spring 19 is passed. The upper end of the latter is bent around the leg l l whereas the lower end engages the prong 16; the purpose of these springs being to normally hold the prongs and legs in the relative position shown inFigure 1.

Each prong is furthermore connected to the disc 5 by means of a flexible wire or cable 20, the upper end of which passes through a hole 21 provided in the disc 5 and is secured thereon in any suitable manner. The legs 14; pass out of the bottom of the handle through the properly dimensioned oblong apertures 22 at the side 01": which are also provided the holes 23 for the passage of the flexible wires 20.

Having thus described the various parts oi? my lifter, its operation will be easily understood and is as follows:

For instance, when it is desired to lift gm out of boiling water, the user inserts two of his lingers, while holding the litter in the hand, through the grip members 7 and, by pulling the latter upward, opens the legs and prongs of the lifter sufliciently to grab the Upon releasing the grips, the heretofore compressed spring 12 will expand and thereby close the prongs as far as the size of the egg grabbed thereby will allow.

I am aware of the fact that there have been similar utensils put on the market in which the legs were not provided with articulated prongs, as in my device. By using articulated prongs as shown in the drawings, the range for a given size of a lifter will be enlarged owing to the fact that to the opening due to the spreading oi? the legs will be added that caused by the outward movement of the prongs due to the pulling trated otherwise than as specified in the ap pended claims.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a culinary device of the character described, the combination of a hollow handle closedat the top and bottom; a reciprocably movable disc positioned'therein; means to operate said disc a plurality of legs rockably connected to said disc; said legs being guided by apertures provided in the bottom of said handle and bent outwardly so that their lower ends will spread apart when said disc is moved inwardly of'said handle; a prong connected rockably to the lower end of each of said legs; resilient means to hold said'prongs in their closed position, and means to operate said prongs from said handle.

2. In a culinary deviceof the. character described, the combination of a hollow handle closed at the top and bottom; a reciprocably movable disc positioned therein; a pull rod secured to said disc and having two laterally and oppositely disposed grip-members guided within slots I provided longitudinallyin said handle; a stationary guide plate secured within saidhandle for guiding said pull rod; a coil spring inserted between said guide plate and said disc; a plurality of legs rockably connected to said disc; said legs being guided by apertures provided in the bottom of said handle and bent outwardly so that their lower ends will spread apart when said disc is moved inwardly of'said handle; a prong roclrably connected to the lower end of each of said legs; resilient means to hold said prongs in their closed position, and means to operate said prongs from said handle. 1

3.111 a culinary device of the character described, the combination of a hollow handle closed at the top and bottom; a reciprocably movable disc positioned therein; a pull rod secured to said disc and having two laterally and oppositely disposed gripmembers guided within slots providedlongitudinally of said handle; a stationary guide plate secured within said handle for guiding said pull rod; a coil springinserted between said guide plate andsaid disc; a plurality of legs rockably connected to said disc; said legs being guided by apertures provided in the bottom of said handle and bent outwardly sothat their ends will spread apart when said disc is moved inwardly of said handle; a prong roclrably connected to the lower end of each of said legs; resilient means to hold said prongs in their closed position, and flexible members connecting said prongs to said movable disc and guided through apertures provided in: the bottom 7 of said handle, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

MARGARET, J. BELL. 

